MIAMI – After holding a team that averages 11 runs a game to just two hits and one run, Alex Panteliodis didn’t want to take credit for his performance
Instead, he praised his freshman catcher.
“I have to give it to Mike Zunino today,” Panteliodis said. “He had a great game behind the plate. He kept me in the game and made me pound the zone early in the count.”
The two teamed up to help give No. 5 Florida (6-1) its first road victory of the season in a 7-1 defeat of No. 16 Miami (6-2).
Zunino constantly reminded the sophomore pitcher to keep hitting his spots by pounding his glove and chest to emphasize the target.
It must have worked because Panteliodis allowed just two hits and one run while striking out a career-high eight batters in 5.2 innings of work.
But Florida’s offense did its part too.
After looking uncomfortable at the plate and striking out three times in the first two innings against All-America pitcher Chris Hernandez, the Gators exploded for five hits and four runs in the third inning.
“We were able to bat through the lineup a couple of times and see actually see what he had,” Zunino said. “It helps a lot as a hitter when you can actually see him one at-bat and then the next at-bat you are a lot more comfortable.”
The hitters adjusted to Hernandez’s cutter, which comes in on the right-handed hitters. Righties cheated a little bit more and tried to pull the pitch, while lefties just looked to poke the ball to left field.
That approach worked for Josh Adams and Austin Maddox who both hit two-run singles in the inning to give the Gators an early lead.
Florida tacked on three insurance runs in the eighth.
Sophomore pitcher Nick Maronde bounced back from a disappointing start to the season and dominated the Hurricanes in relief.
He rang up seven batters in just 3.1 scoreless innings.
“He pitched ahead in the count at attacked tonight,” UF coach Kevin O’Sullivan said. “He controlled the count a little bit more and didn’t let innings get away from him.”
The Gators will send out freshman Brian Johnson as they try to clinch the weekend series against the Hurricanes on Saturday at 7 p.m.
